Differences and Similarities between the Collie and the Pekingese.

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Collie Versus Pekingese: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Collie and the Pekingese? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Collie and the Pekingese better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Collie and the Pekingese.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie and the Pekingese is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Collie and for the Pekingese. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Collie and the Pekingese.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Collie or the Pekingese.

Collie versus Pekingese

Collie versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the Collie and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Pekingese is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Pekingese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Collie versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Collie to the Pekingese based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Collie and the Pekingese

Factor Collie Pekingese
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 5/5
Height 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
General Health 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1480 $1930
Price Range $1000 – $1800 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 80.8 percent 93.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 37 86
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 16 73

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Collie in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Pekingese. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Collie is a better pet than the Pekingese. So, you should get the Collie!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Collie and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Collie versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the Collie and the Pekingese are most different:

  • Collies are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone. However, Pekingeses are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • The Similarities Between the Collie and the Pekingese

    The Collie and the Pekingese are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Collie and the Pekingese are most similar:

  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese are very easy to train.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Pekingese shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the Pekingese.

    Collies weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Collies are 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Collie versus Pekingese

    The lifespan of Collies is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Collies is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

    Pekingeses live longer than Collies.

    Collie versus Pekingese

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the Collie

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Collie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 80.8 percent, the Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Collie and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of Collie versus Price of Pekingese

    The average price of the Collie puppy is $1480. The price of the Collie typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Collie can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 356 Collie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of the Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pekingese is more expensive than the Collie.

    Collie Pekingese
    Average Price $1480 $1930
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $1288 to $2500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Collie and Pekingese. For different price points, the charts show how many Collie puppies or how many Pekingese puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Collie puppy or the Pekingese puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Collie versus Pekingese

    Adopting the Collie versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Collies and many Pekingeses are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Collie named Salem that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Collies like Salem on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Collies, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, Dany is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like Dany that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Collie and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Casper is the name of another Collie (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Joe Joe is an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Collies and Pekingeses are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Collies and Pekingeses that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the Pekingese

    Collie Pekingese
    Intelligence Rank 16 out of 130 dog breeds 73 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 16 out of 130 dog breeds. The Collie belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Collies tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Collie is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Collie versus Popularity of Pekingese

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Collie and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Collie Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 35 77
    2014 36 82
    2015 36 80
    2016 37 93
    2017 40 88
    2018 38 92
    2019 38 83
    2020 40 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Pekingese

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Collies shed more than Pekingeses?

    Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Pekingese

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Pekingese?

    Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    Collies have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Pekingeses have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

    Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Pekingeses are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Pekingese

    Collies do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Pekingeses have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the Pekingese?

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

    Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Pekingeses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Collies and Pekingeses?

    Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Collie or the Pekingese?

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Collie that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Collie:

  • Keeshond (84 percent match with Collie). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Keeshond.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pekingese that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Pekingese:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Collie and how the Pekingese compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Collie and of the Pekingese to other breeds:

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Collie versus English Setter     Collie versus Karelian Bear Dog     Collie versus Shetland Sheepdog     Collie versus Afghan Hound     Collie versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Collie versus Havanese     Collie versus Jack Russell Terrier     Collie versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Collie versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Collie versus Yorkshire Terrier     Collie versus Saint Berdoodle     Collie versus Kai Ken     Collie versus Mastiff     Collie versus Irish Wolfhound     Collie versus Bulldog     Collie versus Scottish Terrier     Collie versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Collie versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Collie versus Irish Terrier     Collie versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Collie versus Bordoodle     Collie versus Silky Terrier     Collie versus Weimaraner     Collie versus Bordoodle     Collie versus Dogue de Bordeaux     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Bichon Frise     Pekingese versus Bouvier des Flandres     Pekingese versus Cockalier     Pekingese versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Pekingese versus Golden Retriever     Pekingese versus American Foxhound     Pekingese versus Beaglier     Pekingese versus American Bulldog     Pekingese versus Tibetan Spaniel     Pekingese versus Keeshond     Pekingese versus Shichon     Pekingese versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Pekingese versus Bouvier des Flandres     Pekingese versus Westiepoo     Pekingese versus Basenji     Pekingese versus Bulldog     Pekingese versus Irish Water Spaniel     Pekingese versus Barbet     Pekingese versus American Eskimo Dog     Pekingese versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Pekingese versus Dogo Argentino     Pekingese versus Komondor     Pekingese versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Pekingese versus Skye Terrier     Pekingese versus Belgian Malinois     

    Conclusion: Collie versus Pekingese. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Collie and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.